VULLEDA MALLESWARA BRIDGE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A small brook has carved through a shoulder of a hill and formed a rectangular shaped natural bridge (21 m long, 2 m wide) spanning a vent 5.5 m in width and 8.5 m in height. The vault (ceiling) under the bridge is literally covered with stalactites (speleothems) of all shapes. On the rock face above the right (north) bank of the brook, a rock surface measuring 20 by 30 m is covered with supposedly man-made engravings (script karren?). ETYMOLOGY: The Telugu vulleda (canopy) relates to the splendorous cloth held above the bridegroom during marriage processions. SITUATION: In a picturesque area in the Nallamalai (note 1) and at a distance of 14 km (?) along roads in an unspecified direction (east or so) from Nandyal (note 2) and short of (downstream) the temple cave –>Vulleda Malleswara Swami Guha, which both lie north of a temple dedicated to Malaishvara (Malaishwara / Malleshvara / Malleshwara; Lord of the Hills, Shiva) and at a height of approximately 20 m above the level of a river ed / stream bed (no name known). CULTURAL HISTORY: Gods perform marriage here. Above the left bank of the brook stands Vulleda Malleswara Swami temple.ed / stream bed (no name known). CULTURAL HISTORY: Gods perform marriage here. Above the left bank of the brook stands Vulleda Malleswara Swami temple.